Falklands veteran, 68, who was ‘forced out of Royal Navy for being bisexual' after 18 years’ service plans to sue MoD for return of military honours

  • Joe Ousalice, 68, was court-martialled in 1993 and dismissed from the navy 
  • He had been forced to reveal his sexuality and was dismissed from the Navy 
  • The navy stripped Mr Ousalice's medals and good conduct badges 
  • Gay people were banned from serving in the military until rule changes in 2000 

A Falklands veteran who says he was forced to leave the Royal Navy because of his sexuality has announced plans to sue the Ministry of Defence to have his medals returned to him.

Joe Ousalice, 68, from Southampton, was court-martialled in 1993. Mr Ousalice has always denied the charge, but said he was forced to reveal his bisexuality at the court martial and was discharged from the Navy because he might 'corrupt' others.

Joe Ousalice, 68, was court-martialled in 1993 after being found in bed with another sailor, which the service said was prejudicial to good order and naval discipline

Joe Ousalice, 68, was court-martialled in 1993 after being found in bed with another sailor, which the service said was prejudicial to good order and naval discipline

Mr Ousalice has always denied the charge, but said he was forced to reveal his bisexuality at the court martial and was discharged from the Navy because he might 'corrupt' others

Mr Ousalice has always denied the charge, but said he was forced to reveal his bisexuality at the court martial and was discharged from the Navy because he might 'corrupt' others

The judgment brought an end to his 18-year naval career, during which he served in the Falklands, Northern Ireland and the Middle East.

The Navy confiscated his medal and three Good Conduct badges at the time of his dismissal.

He is now taking the MoD to court to have them returned.

Mr Ousalice's lawyers, from human rights organisation Liberty, argue that he was discharged 'entirely because of his sexuality'.

The group wants other medals that were confiscated from military personnel because of their sexuality to be returned to them.

Gay people were not allowed to serve in the military until a rule change in 2000.

Mr Ousalice said he lived a 'double life' while he was in the Navy, and was careful not to associate with other sailors whom he knew were gay. 

He told the BBC: 'The Navy wasn’t just my job, it was my life. But to do it I had to hide another important part of me, which I did because I loved the navy life so much I didn’t want to give it up. But I shouldn’t have been asked to choose.

'I was made to feel like I was disgusting and in the end I was hounded out on some trumped up charges, and told that because I was attracted to men, my 18 years of service counted for nothing. It was heart-breaking. It took me years to recover.

Ministry of Defence's decision to overturn ban on Gay people in the military 

The Ministry of Defence was sued in 1999 for four ex-service members who were forced out of the miltiary due to their sexuality. 

The four individuals, supported by Stonewall, took a case to the European Court of Human Rights who declared the ban unlawful. 

The MoD was forced as a result to lift the ban in January 2000. 

LGBT members of the military are guaranteed equal rights as any other service personnel, including pay, pensions and maternity benefits. 

The Mod, the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force regularly receive commendations from Stonewall for their work on LGBT inclusivity. 

According to the MoD: 'All three Services have a zero-tolerance policy on bullying of all kinds, including homophobic bullying. 

'All military personnel receive mandatory diversity and inclusion training on entry into service and every two years which both educates people on the reasons for positive behaviour, and the options for seeking help when poor behaviours are displayed.'

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'All I want now is my medal and badges back, and recognition from the Government and the Royal Navy for all the years of service and hard work I gave them.

'I also want other LGBT veterans to know they’re not alone, and that we all deserve the same recognition.'

An MoD spokesman said it would be 'inappropriate' to comment as legal proceedings are ongoing.

'We are currently looking at how personnel discharged from service because of their sexuality, or now abolished sexual offences, can have their medals returned,' he added.

Emma Norton, head of legal casework at Liberty said that Joe was 'very unlikely' to be the only person in this situation.

She said: "The MoD discriminated horribly against LGBT members of the armed forces for decades.

'They subjected people to degrading and intrusive investigations into their private lives, destroying careers and damaging lives.

'Joe is very unlikely to be the only one in this situation. The MoD themselves wrote to Joe years ago, saying that they were looking into the issue of those who had forfeited medals as a consequence of their sexuality.

'So they know this must affect other people. Returning Joe's medal will go some way towards making amends for the appalling treatment he has suffered.'

 

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